Constipation
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Methane Constipation
There
is some early research that suggests that the colon gas, methane, may
promote constipation. Prebiotic plant fibers can increase the acidity of
the colon to an extent that these particular methane producing bacteria
may stop growing. Were I still in practice, I would encourage my
constipation patient to eat foods containing prebiotics or use a
prebiotic supplement in gradually increasing doses – 1 gram a day for
several days, then 2 grams and so forth. If excessive colon gas and
bloating or cramps occur before constipation improves, then the diet
test did not work. If it did, then you should find the amount of
prebiotic soluble fiber that works for you by evaluating the malodorous
sulfide smell of your flatus. The bacteria that make methane do not grow
in an acid environment. Likewise, those that make the malodorous
sulfide gases in colon gas do not grow in an acid environment. If your
flatus has no or little smell, your colon may be at the right acidity to
prevent the methane producing bacteria from growing. See references at
end.
